The speaker staggered towards the Flyman.
'Don't you be silly, Mr Burton, or you might find me nasty; and I don't want to have to be nasty to you.'
'Give me the ruby; it's mine.'
'That's where you're wrong. Just now it happens to be mine.'
Mr Cox placed himself between the pair.
'Pretend to be sober, Burton, even if you're drunk.'
'I am sober. I don't care that for him.' He tried to snap his fingers, but the attempt was a disastrous failure. 'I say, I'm going to have the ruby now, and so I am.'
'Shut it!'
Mr Cox's treatment of the intoxicated gentleman was vigorous and to the point. He gave him a push which propelled him backwards with such unexpected force that, before he was able to recover himself, he was lying on the ground.
There for a time he stayed. The others paid no attention to him whatever. Mr Cox continued the discussion on his own account.